Reg.lat.1352

Pastoral Commentary: Eclogue II

This is a question of love, as he well knows; it shows not only the one who has become accustomed to something in this place, whence Horace The Roman lyric poet (65–8 BC) speaks of the "pleasing boldness of the good" original: "boni grata protervitas", rising above distains. And from disdain comes all pride. "Was it not Menalcas...?" Virgil, Eclogue 2.15.

Alexander

It is said that Corydon loved Alexander, whom Iollas gave to him—the same boy whom those "born for love" original: "amorenatos"; likely referring to poets or lovers say preferred the boy Cebetes.

Cebetes

Lera

Whose girl was Lera. Because of this, some wish to understand the name Amaryllis as representing Lesbia, and Menalcas as representing Cebetes.

Donatus

"O handsome boy" original: "O formose puer"; Eclogue 2.17. Donatus Aelius Donatus, a 4th-century grammarian and Virgil commentator rightly says that he speaks by suspending and then persuading the boy of his beauty, so that you may understand he desired something else for such a one; but he speaks "in the grass" in the rustic setting lest he should offend the discourse and the judgment of love.

Sallust

...Scarcely return, do not trust. In Sallust Gaius Sallustius Crispus, a Roman historian they saw the health of youth... "The white privets fall" original: "Alba ligustra cadunt"; Eclogue 2.18. Virgil uses this to show that even beautiful white flowers are discarded while dark hyacinths are gathered. Both rustic and amorous people make comparisons from flowers. The privet term: ligustrum; a shrub with white flowers is a white flower of very little value; but "vaccinia" term: vaccinia; often translated as hyacinths or blueberries are indeed violets which are of a purple color.

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It is manifest that he says there are things in which lovers can boast, both for beauty and for song, which he seems to recount in order. And much with the "honor of the seat" likely referring to the status or location of the lover... but it is better that he finds "two of the flock." Nor do the sheep fall, being in great number; whence we read in the Georgics Virgil's later poem on agriculture: "Immediately choose for them flocks with white soft wool" original: "Continuo greges illis lege mollibus albos".

Also elsewhere: "Now thus on the bare [ground]... to believe oneself worthy." "A thousand of my sheep [wander in the Sicilian mountains]" original: "Mille meae Siculis errant in montibus agnae"; Eclogue 2.21. They were either grazing in the wild, or are praised for the waters and the hedges, just as they are praised for their age.